Meir Kahane
Meir Kahane was an American-Israeli Orthodox rabbi, ultra-nationalist politician, and writer, who founded the Jewish Defense League (JDL) in the United States, before immigrating to Israel where he served as a member of the Knesset. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1932, Kahane became well-known for his strong views on Jewish nationalism, advocating for the emigration of Jews to Israel and the establishment of a theocratic state based on Jewish law.
In Israel, Kahane's political career was marked by controversy. His party, Kach, advocated for the annexation of the West Bank and Gaza and the expulsion of Arabs from these areas and Israel. His views and legislative proposals were often considered extreme by mainstream Israeli politics, and in 1988, Kach was banned from the Israeli Knesset for being racist and undemocratic. Despite his contentious political stance, Kahane's influence on Israeli politics and right-wing movements remains significant.
Kahane was assassinated in November 1990 in New York City by an Egyptian-American gunman. His legacy continues to provoke debate and has influenced various streams of Jewish nationalism and activism. His writings, including his book 'The Jewish Idea', articulate his ideological vision and continue to be studied and referenced in discussions on Jewish identity and nationalism.